Online toy sales grew exponentially last year, soaring from $45 million in 1998 to $425 million, according to a new report by the NPD Group and Media Metrix. At the current rate, their report foresees online toy sales hitting $1.6 billion by 2002. Online toy sales represented 2% of 1999's $23 billion in toy sales. The total was up 8.6% over 1998. Despite Web site outages and slowdowns during the peak December selling season, NPD says 95% of...

Online toy sales grew exponentially last year, soaring from $45 million in 1998 to $425 million, according to a new report by the NPD Group and Media Metrix. At the current rate, their report foresees online toy sales hitting $1.6 billion by 2002. Online toy sales represented 2% of 1999's $23…